Mrs. Morris and the Mermaid (A Salem B&B Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
8th in Series
Setting - Massachusetts
Publisher : Kensington Cozies (February 20, 2024)
Mass Market Paperback : 368 pages
ISBN-10 : 1496741390
ISBN-13 : 978-1496741394
Digital ASIN : B0C6FV91ML
Set in Salem, Massachusetts, this fun, cozy series sees a widowed B&B owner teaming up with a charming ghost to solve murders—an engaging read for fans who like a paranormal tinge to their mysteries.
Charlene and her handsome spectral friend, Dr. Jack Strathmore, are thrilled that their Salem, Massachusetts, B&B is overflowing with mermaids in advance of the town’s newest attraction—a mermaid parade! Retired Hollywood actress Trinity Powers has even agreed to appear on the lead float to commemorate her breakout role as the eponymous mermaid in the blockbuster cult classic, Sirena. The parade also features Trinity’s rival, an up-and-coming ingénue, who stars in the film’s recent (and somewhat controversial) reboot. Though their rabid fan clubs seem ready to tear each other—and the festivities—apart, the vying actresses are keeping it cool, for now . . .
But when Charlene discovers a mermaid murdered, she realizes a killer is out to steal the show. With the help of Jack and Detective Sam Holden, Charlene plunges into the case, determined to stop a killer from striking again . . .
Excerpt 4 Great Escape Blog Tours
Mrs. Morris and the Mermaid by Traci Wilton
“Thank you, Minnie,” everyone said as she passed the treats out. She placed the empty tray on the sideboard.
“Welcome! I might stay and watch the second one since I haven’t seen it either.” Minnie pulled up a vacant chair. “Find out why the grandkids are obsessed with it.”
Charlene started the movie once everyone settled down. Right away, the film had a different flavor. The music was upbeat and Alannah as Sirena not as serene, or compelling. Alannah had dark hair and dark eyes; her swimming was good but not as fluid as Trinity’s had been. Still lovely, but in a different way. Josh, played by Dom Preston, held his own as a heartthrob rather than taking a back seat.
The plot was the same but modernized. The time on the island had been shortened and they’d given Alannah two attractive sisters to swim with. Barb and Andrew joined them near the end of the film, finding places to sit on the floor. In this version, the pair also accepted their doomed love. Josh went on to be an oceanographer while Sirena and her sisters moved islands to avoid future capture.
Charlene’s cheeks were dry when this one was over, though her feet had tapped along to the music.
“What’s your favorite?” Natalie asked Minnie and Charlene when the remake was over.
“I like them both,” Charlene said. “For different reasons. Just maybe Alannah has an edge for me because it’s not as sad.” She’d cried so much after Jared’s death that she didn’t need to be reminded of tragedy.
Aqua spun around and tried to move her body as if she was swimming with a tail. “I love Alannah Sirena!”
Minnie laughed at the little girl’s antics. “I can see the appeal for this one, but I prefer Trinity Powers to Alannah Gomez. So yes, I guess I am Team Trinity.”
Excerpt 5
“Aqua, come here, hon, let’s see how this fits.” Natalie held up the soft fabric Charlene assumed would be a bodice with scalloped frills.
“Where’s the tail?” The little girl sounded frantic.
“Relax, Aqua. I’ll attach it later. It’s easier to do this in sections.” Natalie seemed pleased and lowered the bodice to her lap. “I found a new pattern this year that allows easier movement for walking.”
“I’d love to see it!” Barb said. “Will you all be wearing costumes?” Silva stalked and pounced on a fabric scrap.
“Yep. Even me,” Linc said. “I’ve got a staff with Neptune as the handle. Found it at a mermaid festival in Southern Cali.”
“That sounds great,” Andrew said. “Is that festival any good? We’ve been sticking to the east coast.”
“It was so much fun.” Natalie used tiny scissors to snip a thread. “Two hundred people in the parade. We were part of a float to raise awareness for water safety.”
“That’s a lot!” Barb said. “The Coney Island parade only averages a hundred entrants.”
A hundred was what they were at already. Charlene glanced toward Jack, who grinned at her as he said, “Mermaids. Who knew?”
Linc stood and stretched his body from his cramped sitting position. “It’s been around for ten years now. I’ll give you the registration information if you like. How many festivals do you hit up each year?”
“One.” Barb rested her fingers on her husband’s arm. “Andrew would like to do more but it will have to wait until we retire, right, babe?”
“Right. It’s expensive to travel but it’s our thing to do together.” Andrew rested his shoulder against Barb’s. “We work fulltime in the tech industry.”
“The festivals and parades are a way of life for us.” Natalie smiled fondly at her family. “We have a merfolk website, Tida Wave’s Creations, where we sell bespoke tails and costumes. We participate in the festivals with vendor opportunities. It allows us to do what we love.”
Jack teased Silva with a piece of cloth behind Charlene’s armchair, causing the cat to sit back on her haunches before she leaped at the chair leg. Jewel laughed. “Silly kitty!”
“What about the girls?” Barb asked. “Aren’t they in school?”
“We homeschool.” Natalie took a pin from the bodice fabric and stuck it in her wristlet. It had a magnet that made the pins stick if she missed. “We live in New Jersey.”
“So, you’ve probably been to the Coney Island Parade lots of times,” Andrew said.
“Oh yeah.” Linc bent to retrieve a lace scrap from Silva, accidentally getting close to Jack. He rubbed his arm as if chilled. “That’s where Natalie and I fell in love. Folks go all out for the parade. It’s the start of the tourist season for them.”
“We’ve been once,” Barb held Andrew’s hand. “It was so fun. We met Deborah Harry.”
“The year she was Queen?” Linc asked.
“No,” Andrew said. “I forget who won the crowns—we were so overwhelmed by everything. Still, she was nice. We’ve met other celebrities who weren’t as chill.”
Charlene enjoyed Deborah Harry’s acting and music. So much talent in one woman.
Barb looked at the girls and whatever she’d been about to say, she changed her mind. “It was a wild weekend.”
Jack laughed. “Now that I’d like to know more about.”
“We can’t wait to meet Trinity.” Andrew freed his hand to brush his hair back off his forehead. “I hope she’s cool too. I’d love to get an autograph or a picture with her.”
“She hasn’t been on the scene for twenty years,” Barb confirmed what Natalie had told them earlier. “It’s like she disappeared! Trinity is why we’re in Salem.”
“I want to meet Alannah,” Aqua declared.
“And Trinity,” Jewel said. “Both.”
“You will,” Linc promised. He straightened and nodded at the Martins.
“You guys are great,” Andrew said. “Even if you aren’t Team Trinity.”
Natalie grinned. “We’re Alannah, all the way. But you both are awesome too. Let’s not let a silly feud get in the way of the Mermaid Parade!”
“Here, here!” Charlene clapped her hands. Everyone in the room cheered.
From cozy mysteries to seaside romance, USA Today bestselling author Traci Hall writes stories that captivate her readers. As a hybrid author with over sixty published works, Ms. Hall has a favorite tale for everyone. Mystery lovers, check out her Scottish Shire series, set in the seaside town of Nairn, or the Salem B&B Mystery series, as Traci Wilton. Her latest project is an Irish Castle cozy as Ellie Brannigan. Whether it’s her ever-popular By the Sea romances, an Appletree Cove sweet romance, or a fun who-done-it, Traci finds her inspiration in sunny South Florida, living right near the ocean.
Website https://www.tracihall.com/
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